Container



March 13, 1945.

J. E; socKE ETAL CONTAINER Filed Jan. 19, 1943 55 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 13, 1945. ,E, O KE 2,371,194

CONTAINER Filed Jan. 19, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2i 24 0r Z/ ATTORNEYS I March 1945- Y J. E. socKE EI'AL 2,371,194

. CONTAI Filed Jan. 19, 1943 s Sheets-Sheets W'rh M f [MW i HA A TTOQNEXS I Patented Mar. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,211,194 CONTAINER John E. Socke, Pelham Manor, N. Y., and George E. Eckman, New Milford, N. J., assignors to American Can Company, New York, N. Y. a corporation of New Jersey Application January 19, 1943, SerialNo. 472,886

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to containers and has particular reference to hinge devices for container during shipment and storage and may taken through the container and cover'shown in Fig. 1, with portions broken away;

be hinged open from two different sides of the container or may be entirely removed free-of. the container as desired.

Another object is the provision of such acontainer and cover hingeconstruction which will. v enable quick and easy opening of the container by way of hinging the cover open from either of two sides or byentirely removing it from the container thereby being especially adapted for emergency uses such as military field operations. A further object of the invention is the provision of a comparatively simple hinge construction which not only provides a. novel and effective hinge connection between a container and a gasket lined cover but which also functions as a protective stop device, preventing injury to the cover gasket when the cover carries the weight of a ntuhinber of filled containers piled on top of each 0 er.

7 Still another object of the invention is the provision of complementary hinge devices in a container and gasket lined cover which cooperate in,

clamping the cover gasket between the container top and the cover flange in a uniform manner and on an even plane, thereby efiecting a tight annular seal between container body and cover for the protection of the contents.

, Yet another advantage of the invention resides in the said protective stop devices performing the additional function of guiding the cover into Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the upper portion of the container and showing the difierent hinging positions of the container cover, with portions of the cover handle bro-ken away;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectiona view of the cover handle;

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views of the container and cover showing difierent cover releasing positions of devices for holding the cover in place on the container; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged composite view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 showing how the cover may be entirely freed from the container and illustrating the cover in spaced relation thereto after such a removal, with portions of the cover handle broken away.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate a sheet metal container which is particularly adapted for use as a machine gun ammunition case, although the invention is equally well adapted to many other kinds of containers. The container includes a rectangular body ll (Figs. 1 and 2) having two side walls l2, two end walls I3, a permanent bottom M, and a removable cover IS. The bottom is secured to the body in any suitable manner such as, for example, by a conventional double seam It.

The cover 15 is formed with a countersunk panel' [8 and a peripheral depending flange I9 proper assembly alignment with the container."

body.

invention will'be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accomparwing drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referringtothe drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a-container with its cover in closed'pofiition and embodying the instant invention;

P18. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view Numerous other objects and advantages of the which sets 05: an inverted channel 2| (see also Figs. 3 and 4). This channel preferably retains a. resilient annular gasket 22 of rubber or the like material. The gasket extends entire y around the peripheral channel of the cover and engages the upper edge of the body II and thus seals the container when the cover is clamped in place on the body.

The cover [5 is retained on position by complementary hinge devices which include a pair of link members 25 and a pair of latch or lever members 26, There is one of these members on each side wall I2 when the container is closed by the coverl5. The links 25 are preferably made of heavy wire and are substantially rectangular in shape, having an upper bar or rung 28 and a lower rung 29. The-upperrung of the link serves as a hinge pintle for the cover and is retained in place on the cover by a plurality of hinge knuckles which are formed on each of the two opposing longitudinal flanges I! of the cover. These hinge'knuckles surround the u enclosed parts of the pintle.

the body in clamped the knuckles.

in each hinge, a long central knuckle3l and two short outer knuckles 22. Each outer knuckle is spaced from each side ofthe central knuckle leaving two-portions of the pintle 26 exposed between These exposed portions of the pintle span openings 33' which are cut in the depending flange I! of the cover.

When the cover I6 is in place on the container body I l the exposed portions of each pintle 28 rest The lower edge of each lug plate 36 is formed 7 with spaced and aligned hinge knuckles 4i which carry a straight wire pintle 42. Hinge knuckles 43 also enclose the pintle and provide a hinge with s 4 2,871,194 .The drawings show three such hinge knuckles I countersunk panel ll oi the cover. The looped ends of the handle are connected to rectangular shaped wire links 66 which are loosely engaged in raised elongated clips 66 '(see also Fig. secured to the top of the cover. These clips permit of considerable play between the clip and the link so i that the handle may be raised .to a carrying posithe plate knuckles 4|. The knuckles 43 are formed on the-upper edges of the latch members 26. In this manner the two latch members 26 are hinged- Iy carried onthe two side walls l2 of the conlatch member 26. These lugs 46'engage over the lower long side or rung 28 of the wire links 26 when the plate is in latched position, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Adjacent the lower edge. each latch member is formed with a vertical slot 46.

The slots 48 receive locking lugs 49 which extend'out from the side walls l2 of the container body and when the latches 26 are in latched position, they project through the slots in the latch members.'- The' locking lugs may be formed with small holes 6| which are so positioned as to be just beyond the latch members when the latter are latched and a' cotter pin 52 having a pull ring 53 secured in its head maybe inserted in the hole 6i. These cotter pins hold the latch members in a locked position against the sides of the body as best shown in Fig. 1. I

In such a construction of hinge device, the hingeable latch members 26 while locked in position by the cotter pins 62 against the side walls l2 of the container body ll retain the hingeable links 26 in a taut position also against the side walls of the body while the upper and lower rungs of the links are confined within the body lugs 26 and the latch lugs 46 respectively. While the links and the latch members are in this rigidor locked position,'the cover [6 is clamped down tightly on the container body; with the annular gasket 22 of the cover making uniform pressure contact with the whole periphery of the body edge.

With the cover l6 thus firmly secured to the body II, the contents are-effectively protected against air and moistur and other deteriorating tion, as shown in Fig. 5, or may be depressed to a retracted or non-carrying position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This allows containers to be stacked one on top of the other if desired.

The describedcomplementary hinge devices are particularly adapted for rapid and easy opening of the container by a hinging of the cover along either of the two side walls 12 of the body (as seen in Figs. 3 and 4) or by a complete removal of the cover from the body (as shown in Fig. 8). In either of these cases it is merely necessary to remove the cotter pin 62 by a pull on its ring 62. This then may be followed by a swinging, outwardly and upwardly, of the latch member 26, as best shown in Figs. 6 and '7. Swinging action of the latch member automatically shifts the link 26 outwardly and upwardly and thus releases the lowerrung 28 of the link from the latch lugs 4| of the latch member. The cover may then be hinged or it may be removed entirely after opening the other latch. I If it is desired to merely hinge the coveropen, only one latch member 26 is released. The locked latch member on the opposite side of the body then holds the hinge pintle 28 of the link 26 on this opposite side in place in its h nge lugs 26. This permits the cover to be hinged open on that side while using the hinge pintle as a fulcrum.

With hinge devices on both sides of the container of identical construction and operation, obviously either set of devices may be released as desired to eflect a hinging of the cover on the opposite side of the container. Fig. 3 shows such a hinging of the cover on the left side of the body after the hinge device on the right side is released and Fig. 4 shows the same hinging action in reverse, hinging on the right side of the body when the left hinge device is released. Such a double hinging action from two different sides of the container is of great value during emergencies when it is desirable to gain entrance to the contents of the container as rapidly as possible,

as for example, when thecontainer is used for cartridges or cartridge belts for machine guns on the battle field. 1

At times it is advantageous to remove the cover completely from the container. This may be done-quickly by raising both latch members 26 simultaneously. This releases both links 26 and I influences and the container as a unit may be readily transported and may be easily, handled.

permits of lifting the cover It free and clear of the container body, as best shown in Fig. 8. Unobstructed access may thereupon be had to the interior of the, body. When desired the cover may be replaced on the body and used as a hinged reclosure.

The hinge lugs 26, in addition to their function as hinge knuckles or hinge supports serve the further and important purpose of stops against excessive clamping or depression of the gasket lined cover. This additional function comes into play when a number of containers, fllled for ex ample with live ammunition, are stacked on top of each other.' The lower containers or boxes in such a pile will bear the brunt of the w ight and the top edges of the container bodies might cut through the gaskets 22 if it were not for the shoulders 31 of the lugs 26 acting as M against excessive downward depression or the cover.

. the cut away openings 33 also serve to guide the or replaced thereon.

It is, thought that the invention and many'of its attendant advantages will be understood from 3 links, and an open latch lug on said latch members for engaging and holding said links in a locked position, said latch members being hinge:

the foregoing-description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope or the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a-prefe'rred embodiment thereof. We claim: 7 I v 1. In a container having a body, a. cover for said body, and a pair of hinge pintles disposed one on each of two opposing edges of said cover, the improvement comprising receiving means on said body for said pintles, and pivotally mounted locking means on said body tor holding said pintles in said receiving means to retain the cover in position on-said body, said locking means constituting cooperating pairs of links and lever members operable independently of each other for selectively releasing said pintles from saidreceivin: means to allow for. hingedly opening the cover from one-side or the other, said locking means also being operable simultaneously to entirely release said cover so that it ma be separated,

from said body.

f body, a pivotally mounted latch member hingedly able on said body 'for releasing said links singly to allow for the hinging open of the cover from one side or the other or plurally to allow for the complete removal of the cover from body.

3. In a container having a, body and a'cover for said body, the improvement comprising a pivotally mounted link disposed on each of two opposing edges of said cover, said links each having hinge pintles connecting with said cover, an open lug on said bodyadjacent each of ,said pintles for receiving said pintles to-allow for hingedly opening the cover from one side or the other and to allow for the separation of the cover fromthe connecting with said body adjacent each of said 2. In a container having/a body anda cover I for said body, the improvement comprising a pivotally mounted link disposed on each of two opposing edges of said cover, said links each having connecting with said body'adiacent each or said links, an open latch lug on said latch members for engaging and holding said links in a locked "body, a cover, for said body, an annular gasket in said cover, a hinge pintle disposed on each of two opposing edges of said cover, means on said body for receiving and holding both of said pintles to hold the cover in closing position on the container-or for selectively holding one of said pintles to hinge said cover on the held side, and stop elements forming a part of said means and providing a stop against which said pintles engage to prevent injury-to the cover'gasket when external pressure is applied to said cover.

JOHN E. SOCKE.

GEORGE E. ECKMAN. 

